Date: 6/3/26 3:46 pm From: Jason Hoeksema <jason.hoeksema...> Subject: [BIRDWG01] stray N. Saw-whet Owl in Mississippi?
On the night of May 27, around 10:15pm on my property in Lafayette County, Mississippi (mixed hardwood and pine forest), I heard a distinct "toot" song that sounded like a small owl: Repeated, clear, single notes on a consistent pitch, faster than one note per second, in bouts of maybe 15-30 seconds, several different times over the course of a few minutes. I was walking the dog, with no recording equipment on hand.
On May 29th it made another appearance around the same time of night. It was fairly distant, down the slope into the forest, but I managed to grab a short (~5-second) recording with my iPhone before walking down the hill to try to get closer. In retrospect, I should have stayed put and obtained a longer recording of a full song bout, but oh well. It was moving away around the shore of the lake, and I couldn't catch up. I was able to filter the recording to bring out the "toots" enough for the average person to hear them above the frog cacophony: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/658707703
It made one more appearance on the evening of 5/30, around 8:15pm (just after dark), coming from a somewhat different part of the property. Again, it was fairly distant, and moved away before a group of us could get close enough for a better recording (much less a sighting).
Compared to Northern Saw-whet recordings I've listened to, the pitch is lower than average and the cadence slower than average, but I believe it's within the range of variation? Acoustically, the fit with Saw-whet seems better to me than with (Rocky Mtn) Northern Pygmy-Owl, which is pretty consistently slower in cadence.
Saw-whet also seems much more likely than N. Pygmy, as Saw-whets winter in Mississippi in small numbers, and breed in the southern Appalachians, as close as ~500km away. I've sent the recordings to birder friends who live in places where Saw-whets occur frequently, and all but one said it sounded fine for N. Saw-whet. One friend passed around the recording at the Acadia Birding Festival in Maine, and no one could think of anything else it might be.
One friend in Michigan had an interesting idea, speculating that it could be a rare call of Eastern Screech-Owl, which does occasionally "toot", apparently. I found this one example on the Macaulay Library: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/338545761 But: I haven't heard any typical vocalizations of Eastern Screech-Owl on the property in several years, and this tooting was not a short one-off (like you might expect for a rare Screech-Owl vocalization), but rather multiple bouts repeated several times on multiple evenings. Eastern Screech seems unlikely to me for those reasons.
So: Do you think it's a Northern Saw-whet Owl, based on the recording and associated information? Or something else?
Date: 5/20/26 11:51 pm From: Robert O'Brien <00001bb3f9cc1f1f-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Falcon in CO
In suggesting Peregrine, I did consider a falconers hybrid. But the
probabilities seem slim.
A hybrid including Peregrine
it escapes,
It is observed,
it is photographed.
Nevertheless I'm quite open to that. But with what?
It does look like a weird Peregrine . Seems large and Aplomado is a
smallish falcon....?
Bob obrien, Portland or
On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, <greatgrayowl...> <
<0000012933c40dff-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Hey:
> Sorry. I grabbed the wrong photo from eBird. Mexican Aplomado juveniles
> look like this: ML614422141 - Aplomado Falcon - Macaulay Library
> Tony LeukeringDenver, COeBird blog
> eBird commentaryPhotos
>
>
> On Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 03:14:22 PM MDT, Eric VanderWerf <
> <eric...> wrote:
>
> Could it be an Aplomado Falcon, perhaps a juvenile? The size is hard to
> judge, and can't see the tail. The pale feather edges on the back suggest a
> juvenile. The moustache is wide for Aplomado and the white eyebrow too
> small, but more white is just visible on the nape. The bird seems a bit
> ruffled, which could cause the size and shape of those features to vary.
> Seems more likely than a juvenile escaped hybrid falconer's bird.
>
> Eric VanderWerf
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NBHC ID-FRONTIERS Frontiers of Field Identification <
> <BIRDWG01...> On Behalf Of Peter Wilkinson
> Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 10:21 AM
> To: <BIRDWG01...>
> Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Falcon in CO
>
> What an interesting bird!
>
> Some thoughts, though nothing definitive.
>
> I rather doubt HY Peregrine, as suggested by Leith, as I think that should
> still have a blue rather than yellow cere.
>
> My first reaction was that it is possibly a hybrid, probably a falconer’s
> rather than a natural one. I’m not convinced by Perlin: I don’t recall
> seeing one in the flesh, but a falconer friend (now retired) used to fly
> one and I’ve seen lovely photos – I know hybrids can vary quite a lot but
> Rachel’s bird still doesn’t look quite right.
>
> My guess would be Pere x Lanner – certainly I understand that is a hybrid
> that has been used in this country.
>
> Hope this makes some sort of sense! Hybrid falcons, if that is what it is,
> are not easy.
>
> Regards,
>
> Peter Wilkinson
>
> Herts, UK
>
>
> On Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:12 PM Leith McKenzie < 00001c0b99ee6c7e-dmarc-
> <request...> wrote:
>
> >
> > I suspect Bob is right. My theory of the bird would be HY tiercel
> > Peregrine. I think HY because of the white on the face reaching up to
> > the eye. Also, the long sit on the ground perhaps seems consistent
> > with a recent departure from its nest. As to size, male peregrines are
> > known to be about 2/3rds the size of females.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > “Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited
> > idea of freedom.”
> >
> > Jonathan Livingston Seagull
> >
> > On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 07:36:13 PM PDT, Robert O'Brien <
> > <00001bb3f9cc1f1f-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> >
> > The black face, long tail/wings could only be a peregrine, I believe.
> > An unusual photo but not a rarity.
> > Bob OBrien Portland
> > https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/657931501 > >
> >
> > On Tue, May 19, 2026 at 6:52 PM Rachel Hopper <hopkohome8...>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > This falcon was photographed in Weld County, CO today. In the 15
> > > minutes the observer watched it, it did not move from the ground.
> > >
> > > It has been suggested that it might be an Eurasian Hobby as it does
> > > not really fit either of the expected Peregrine or Prairie.
> > >
> > > Comments would be appreciated.
> > >
> > > Photos can be seen here: https://www.rkhphotography.net/Falcon > > >
> > > -----------------------
> > > Rachel Kolokoff Hopper
> > > <hopkohome8...>
> > > Ft. Collins, CO
> > >
> > > Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html > > >
> >
> > Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html > >
> >
> > Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html > >
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
Date: 5/20/26 2:43 pm From: <greatgrayowl...> <0000012933c40dff-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Falcon in CO
Hey:
Sorry. I grabbed the wrong photo from eBird. Mexican Aplomado juveniles look like this: ML614422141 - Aplomado Falcon - Macaulay Library
Tony LeukeringDenver, COeBird blog
eBird commentaryPhotos
On Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 03:14:22 PM MDT, Eric VanderWerf <eric...> wrote:
Could it be an Aplomado Falcon, perhaps a juvenile? The size is hard to judge, and can't see the tail. The pale feather edges on the back suggest a juvenile. The moustache is wide for Aplomado and the white eyebrow too small, but more white is just visible on the nape. The bird seems a bit ruffled, which could cause the size and shape of those features to vary. Seems more likely than a juvenile escaped hybrid falconer's bird.
Eric VanderWerf
-----Original Message-----
From: NBHC ID-FRONTIERS Frontiers of Field Identification <BIRDWG01...> On Behalf Of Peter Wilkinson
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 10:21 AM
To: <BIRDWG01...>
Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Falcon in CO
What an interesting bird!
Some thoughts, though nothing definitive.
I rather doubt HY Peregrine, as suggested by Leith, as I think that should still have a blue rather than yellow cere.
My first reaction was that it is possibly a hybrid, probably a falconer’s rather than a natural one. I’m not convinced by Perlin: I don’t recall seeing one in the flesh, but a falconer friend (now retired) used to fly one and I’ve seen lovely photos – I know hybrids can vary quite a lot but Rachel’s bird still doesn’t look quite right.
My guess would be Pere x Lanner – certainly I understand that is a hybrid that has been used in this country.
Hope this makes some sort of sense! Hybrid falcons, if that is what it is, are not easy.
Regards,
Peter Wilkinson
Herts, UK
On Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:12 PM Leith McKenzie < <00001c0b99ee6c7e-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> I suspect Bob is right. My theory of the bird would be HY tiercel
> Peregrine. I think HY because of the white on the face reaching up to
> the eye. Also, the long sit on the ground perhaps seems consistent
> with a recent departure from its nest. As to size, male peregrines are
> known to be about 2/3rds the size of females.
>
>
>
>
> “Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited
> idea of freedom.”
>
> Jonathan Livingston Seagull
>
> On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 07:36:13 PM PDT, Robert O'Brien <
> <00001bb3f9cc1f1f-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> The black face, long tail/wings could only be a peregrine, I believe.
> An unusual photo but not a rarity.
> Bob OBrien Portland
> https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/657931501 >
>
> On Tue, May 19, 2026 at 6:52 PM Rachel Hopper <hopkohome8...>
> wrote:
>
> > This falcon was photographed in Weld County, CO today. In the 15
> > minutes the observer watched it, it did not move from the ground.
> >
> > It has been suggested that it might be an Eurasian Hobby as it does
> > not really fit either of the expected Peregrine or Prairie.
> >
> > Comments would be appreciated.
> >
> > Photos can be seen here: https://www.rkhphotography.net/Falcon > >
> > -----------------------
> > Rachel Kolokoff Hopper
> > <hopkohome8...>
> > Ft. Collins, CO
> >
> > Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html > >
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
Date: 5/20/26 2:16 pm From: Eric VanderWerf <eric...> Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Falcon in CO
Could it be an Aplomado Falcon, perhaps a juvenile? The size is hard to judge, and can't see the tail. The pale feather edges on the back suggest a juvenile. The moustache is wide for Aplomado and the white eyebrow too small, but more white is just visible on the nape. The bird seems a bit ruffled, which could cause the size and shape of those features to vary. Seems more likely than a juvenile escaped hybrid falconer's bird.
Eric VanderWerf
-----Original Message-----
From: NBHC ID-FRONTIERS Frontiers of Field Identification <BIRDWG01...> On Behalf Of Peter Wilkinson
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 10:21 AM
To: <BIRDWG01...>
Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Falcon in CO
What an interesting bird!
Some thoughts, though nothing definitive.
I rather doubt HY Peregrine, as suggested by Leith, as I think that should still have a blue rather than yellow cere.
My first reaction was that it is possibly a hybrid, probably a falconer’s rather than a natural one. I’m not convinced by Perlin: I don’t recall seeing one in the flesh, but a falconer friend (now retired) used to fly one and I’ve seen lovely photos – I know hybrids can vary quite a lot but Rachel’s bird still doesn’t look quite right.
My guess would be Pere x Lanner – certainly I understand that is a hybrid that has been used in this country.
Hope this makes some sort of sense! Hybrid falcons, if that is what it is, are not easy.
Regards,
Peter Wilkinson
Herts, UK
On Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:12 PM Leith McKenzie < <00001c0b99ee6c7e-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> I suspect Bob is right. My theory of the bird would be HY tiercel
> Peregrine. I think HY because of the white on the face reaching up to
> the eye. Also, the long sit on the ground perhaps seems consistent
> with a recent departure from its nest. As to size, male peregrines are
> known to be about 2/3rds the size of females.
>
>
>
>
> “Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited
> idea of freedom.”
>
> Jonathan Livingston Seagull
>
> On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 07:36:13 PM PDT, Robert O'Brien <
> <00001bb3f9cc1f1f-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> The black face, long tail/wings could only be a peregrine, I believe.
> An unusual photo but not a rarity.
> Bob OBrien Portland
> https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/657931501 >
>
> On Tue, May 19, 2026 at 6:52 PM Rachel Hopper <hopkohome8...>
> wrote:
>
> > This falcon was photographed in Weld County, CO today. In the 15
> > minutes the observer watched it, it did not move from the ground.
> >
> > It has been suggested that it might be an Eurasian Hobby as it does
> > not really fit either of the expected Peregrine or Prairie.
> >
> > Comments would be appreciated.
> >
> > Photos can be seen here: https://www.rkhphotography.net/Falcon > >
> > -----------------------
> > Rachel Kolokoff Hopper
> > <hopkohome8...>
> > Ft. Collins, CO
> >
> > Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html > >
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
Date: 5/20/26 1:35 pm From: Peter Wilkinson <pwilki42...> Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Falcon in CO
What an interesting bird!
Some thoughts, though nothing definitive.
I rather doubt HY Peregrine, as suggested by Leith, as I think that should
still have a blue rather than yellow cere.
My first reaction was that it is possibly a hybrid, probably a falconer’s
rather than a natural one. I’m not convinced by Perlin: I don’t recall
seeing one in the flesh, but a falconer friend (now retired) used to fly
one and I’ve seen lovely photos – I know hybrids can vary quite a lot but
Rachel’s bird still doesn’t look quite right.
My guess would be Pere x Lanner – certainly I understand that is a hybrid
that has been used in this country.
Hope this makes some sort of sense! Hybrid falcons, if that is what it is,
are not easy.
Regards,
Peter Wilkinson
Herts, UK
On Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:12 PM Leith McKenzie <
<00001c0b99ee6c7e-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> I suspect Bob is right. My theory of the bird would be HY tiercel
> Peregrine. I think HY because of the white on the face reaching up to the
> eye. Also, the long sit on the ground perhaps seems consistent with a
> recent departure from its nest. As to size, male peregrines are known to be
> about 2/3rds the size of females.
>
>
>
>
> “Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of
> freedom.”
>
> Jonathan Livingston Seagull
>
> On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 07:36:13 PM PDT, Robert O'Brien <
> <00001bb3f9cc1f1f-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> The black face, long tail/wings could only be a peregrine, I believe. An
> unusual photo but not a rarity.
> Bob OBrien Portland
> https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/657931501 >
>
> On Tue, May 19, 2026 at 6:52 PM Rachel Hopper <hopkohome8...>
> wrote:
>
> > This falcon was photographed in Weld County, CO today. In the 15 minutes
> > the observer watched it, it did not move from the ground.
> >
> > It has been suggested that it might be an Eurasian Hobby as it does not
> > really fit either of the expected Peregrine or Prairie.
> >
> > Comments would be appreciated.
> >
> > Photos can be seen here: https://www.rkhphotography.net/Falcon > >
> > -----------------------
> > Rachel Kolokoff Hopper
> > <hopkohome8...>
> > Ft. Collins, CO
> >
> > Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html > >
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
Date: 5/20/26 10:14 am From: Leith McKenzie <00001c0b99ee6c7e-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Falcon in CO
I suspect Bob is right. My theory of the bird would be HY tiercel Peregrine. I think HY because of the white on the face reaching up to the eye. Also, the long sit on the ground perhaps seems consistent with a recent departure from its nest. As to size, male peregrines are known to be about 2/3rds the size of females.
“Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull and an unlimited idea of freedom.”
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 07:36:13 PM PDT, Robert O'Brien <00001bb3f9cc1f1f-dmarc-request...> wrote:
On Tue, May 19, 2026 at 6:52 PM Rachel Hopper <hopkohome8...> wrote:
> This falcon was photographed in Weld County, CO today. In the 15 minutes
> the observer watched it, it did not move from the ground.
>
> It has been suggested that it might be an Eurasian Hobby as it does not
> really fit either of the expected Peregrine or Prairie.
>
> Comments would be appreciated.
>
> Photos can be seen here: https://www.rkhphotography.net/Falcon >
> -----------------------
> Rachel Kolokoff Hopper
> <hopkohome8...>
> Ft. Collins, CO
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
Date: 5/20/26 6:37 am From: Lee Jones <bzbirdman...> Subject: Re: [BIRDWG01] Falcon in CO
Could it be a Peregrine X Merlin hybrid? Hybrids are occasional "products"
of the falconry industry. Attached are two photos of what I believe is a
Peregrine X Merlin hybrid I had in 2013 near San Bernardino, California.
What caught my attention initially was its size, clearly smaller than a
Peregrie and larger than a Merlin.
*H. Lee Jones, PhD*
San Ignacio, Belize
+501-602-9642
www.booksbyleejones.com <lee...>
*Without data, you're just another person with an opinion.*
On Tue, May 19, 2026 at 7:51 PM Rachel Hopper <hopkohome8...> wrote:
> This falcon was photographed in Weld County, CO today. In the 15 minutes
> the observer watched it, it did not move from the ground.
>
> It has been suggested that it might be an Eurasian Hobby as it does not
> really fit either of the expected Peregrine or Prairie.
>
> Comments would be appreciated.
>
> Photos can be seen here: https://www.rkhphotography.net/Falcon >
> -----------------------
> Rachel Kolokoff Hopper
> <hopkohome8...>
> Ft. Collins, CO
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
On Tue, May 19, 2026 at 6:52 PM Rachel Hopper <hopkohome8...> wrote:
> This falcon was photographed in Weld County, CO today. In the 15 minutes
> the observer watched it, it did not move from the ground.
>
> It has been suggested that it might be an Eurasian Hobby as it does not
> really fit either of the expected Peregrine or Prairie.
>
> Comments would be appreciated.
>
> Photos can be seen here: https://www.rkhphotography.net/Falcon >
> -----------------------
> Rachel Kolokoff Hopper
> <hopkohome8...>
> Ft. Collins, CO
>
> Archives: https://listserv.ksu.edu/birdwg01.html >
